Council Meeting: June 17, 2003 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation
to Authorize the Mayor to Execute a Letter of Support for funding of the Urban
Park Recreation Recovery (UPARR) Program and the Land and Water Conservation
Fund (LWCF)
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to send a letter of support to Senator Barbara Boxer for federal funding of the Urban Park Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR) and the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
BACKGROUND
The UPARR Act of 1978 established a grant program to help urban areas improve recreation opportunities for their residents. It is the only federal program that makes direct grants to cities for local parks. In 2003, the United States Congress decided not to fund UPARR, ending several consecutive years of having funded the program at $30 million annually. President Bush has proposed no funding for 2004. Several proposals currently exist in Congress to fund UPARR at different amounts. One hundred and ten (110) members of the House of Representatives and thirty-one (31) Senators have expressed their support of UPARR to colleagues involved in the appropriation process and asked for funding.
Created by Congress in 1964, the LWCF provides funding to state governments for the conservation of valuable open space and the creation of trails and greenways. Since these funds have been shared with cities in the past, the LWCF can also be an important funding source for city parks.
DISCUSSION
Advocacy for UPARR and LWCF will help raise awareness in Congress of the vital role that city parks play in the lives of their constituents. The City Parks Alliance along with its partner Americans for Heritage and Recreation is calling for $50 million in funding for UPARR in 2004 and $200 million in funding for LWCF. These two programs help cities and communities provide their residents with parks and playgrounds, trails and open spaces. Should these funds be appropriated, the City of Santa Monica will compete for targeted competitive grant funds.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
There are no budget or financial impacts as a result of the proposed action.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to execute the attached letter supporting funding for UPARR and LWCF.
Prepared by: Barbara Stinchfield, Director, Community & Cultural Services Dept.
Karen Ginsberg, Assistant Director, Community & Cultural Services Dept.